BLOG TOUR: The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400073960

Blog Tour: August 3-11, 2009

Summary:

Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake , Pennsylvania , and it’s no place for an outsider. But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life.

Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?

Author Bio:
Cindy Woodsmall is the author of "When the Heart Cries", "When the Morning Comes", and The New York Times Best-Seller "When the Soul Mends". Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of thirty-one years.

My Review:
I have read Amish fiction in the past and didn't find it very fullfilling. That was not the case with "The Hope of Refuge" by Cindy Woodsmall. I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. "The Hope of Refuge" had me engrossed within the first few pages. I found the characters, Cara and Ephrian to be believable and very likeable characters.

I grew up in South Dakota. I lived near a Hutterite community and knew members of the community. This community is somewhat similiar to Amish, therefore, I am particularly interested in the Amish community, their rules and values. As with any book worth reading, I lost a few hours of sleep wanting to discover the outcome of "The Hope of Refuge", but it was well worth it!

My Rating: 4/5 - Great - I would recommend to my friends!

If you would like to purchase "The Hope of Refuge" by Cindy Woodsmall, stop by the Random House Website to review their purchase options.

Happy Reading!!